2026 Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools in Tennessee
[Dental Assisting/Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/dental-support-services/dental-assisting-assistant/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong dental assisting/assistant education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for dental assisting/assistant students.
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2026 Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools in Tennessee
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the dental assisting/assistant degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools
Our analysis ranked Chattanooga State Community College the best value for a degree in dental assisting/assistant in Tennessee. Set in the city of Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,772, compared with $17,756 for out-of-state students. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Chattanooga State Community College generally make around $35,909. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Volunteer State Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dental assisting/assistant, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Gallatin, Volunteer State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,756, with out-of-state students paying around $17,740. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $12,462. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Volunteer State Community College generally make around $40,137. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Memphis earned it the #3 place for dental assisting/assistant. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Memphis is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Memphis. Students borrow a median of $12,073 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $19,013. That is a strong return on a $12,073 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in dental assisting/assistant will find it at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Nashville, which ranked #4. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Nashville is a small public school located in the city of Nashville. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $14,633. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $25,189. Set against $14,633 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. South College is a large private for-profit school located in the city of Knoxville. Students from in state pay about $18,535 in tuition and fees. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $24,533 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from South College generally make around $51,389. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Pulaski earned the #6 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Pulaski is a small public school located in the town of Pulaski. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $12,954 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $38,874. That is a strong return on a $12,954 median debt.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Newbern came in at #7 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the rural area of Newbern, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Newbern is a mid-sized public institution. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Newbern generally make around $33,785. Set against $7,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Genesis Career College Cookeville landed the #8 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Genesis Career College Cookeville is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Cookeville. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Genesis Career College Cookeville generally make around $21,573. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Concorde Career College Memphis came in at #9 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Located in the city of Memphis, Concorde Career College Memphis is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $19,881 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Concorde Career College Memphis generally make around $34,092. That is a strong return on a $19,881 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Ross Medical Education Center Knoxville placed #10 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Set in the city of Knoxville, Ross Medical Education Center Knoxville is a small private for-profit institution. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $25,352. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ross Medical Education Center Johnson City landed the #11 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Ross Medical Education Center Johnson City is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Johnson City. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Ross Medical Education Center Johnson City earn a median of $24,411 early in their careers. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Miller Motte Technical College Chattanooga ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Miller Motte Technical College Chattanooga is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Chattanooga. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $19,302 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $23,066. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Remington College Nashville Campus earned the #13 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Remington College Nashville Campus is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $16,258 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $19,250. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Remington College Nashville Campus generally make around $37,125. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
